~Free and Reduced Price Lunch~

Students may be eligible for free or reduced price lunches ($.40) if they have a completed and approved application on file. (A new application for each child is required each year.)  Parents may complete an application any time during the year but this benefit is not retroactive.  Please note that milk is only served with a complete meal or can be purchased for $ .40.  Federal regulations do not permit the distribution of free milk to a student who brings a lunch from home even if eligible for a free lunch.

Snacks

   During mid-morning, the students are given the opportunity to have a snack during inside recess at their desks or outside in a specific snack area, where they cannot play until they are finished.   We encourage families to pack nutritious snacks in small enough quantities to be finished in a short amount of time.  No glass containers, please!  The students are not permitted to take any food, snacks, candy or drinks from the cafeteria to the playground.  The computer lab and the library are designated as “No Food” areas.

 Please also note that there is an increasing possibility that a child with a severe allergy may be a member of your child’s class.  It may be necessary to implement various snack precautions to minimize risk of inadvertently introducing harmful substances into the classroom.  The situations will be handled on a case-by-case basis and parents will be informed in writing of the special measures needed.  If you have any questions, please contact the school nurse.

Water Bottles

Water bottles have become standard equipment for many children. However, they can be a distraction in a classroom if students disturb or disrupt the learning environment. Your child’s teacher has the discretion to monitor and limit the use of water bottles in the classroom.

SCHOOL GUIDELINES FOR MANAGING STUDENTS
WITH FOOD ALLERGIES

  INTRODUCTION

Food allergies can be severe and occasionally life threatening.  The foods most likely to cause allergic reactions are peanuts, tree nuts, dairy products, egg soy, wheat, fish, and shellfish.  Allergic reactions to the above listed foods can range from milk skin irritations to severe reactions, which may cause anaphylactic shock or even death.

PURPOSE

The following guidelines assume that managing potentially life-threatening allergies in school is a shared responsibility among students, parents, principals, teachers, custodians, food services and health care professionals.  These guidelines are intended to:

• Minimize the risk of allergic reactions of students with known food allergies while at school.
• Ensure that all information provided by parents of allergic children is provided to the appropriate school staff.
• Foster cooperation and communication between parents and school staff in determining effective strategies to minimize an allergic reaction while in school.
• Educate school staff, students and their families about food allergies and ways to reduce the risk of an in-school reaction.

PARENT RESPONSIBILITIES

• Notify the school of the child’s allergies.
• Provide medical documentation from the child’s health care provider.
• Provide a list of foods and/or ingredients that would cause a life-threatening reaction.
• Provide an order for epinephrine by a licensed provider as well as any other medication needed.  Deliver medication(s) to school in original pharmacy-labeled container(s).
• Collaborate with the School Nurse and multidisciplinary school team to develop an Allergy Action Emergency Plan (AAP) and/or Individual Health Care Plan (IHCP).
• Meet with the classroom teacher to review AAP and/or IHCP.  Participate in classroom education.
• Educate child in the self-management of their allergy as age-appropriate including:  safe and unsafe foods, strategies for avoiding the allergen, symptoms of an allergic reaction, how and when to tell an adult a reaction is starting and how to read food labels. 
• Provide a medical alert bracelet/necklace for the child.  Provide a photo of the child (when appropriate).
• Accompany child on field trips, if possible.

SCHOOL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Establish a basic medical emergency plan for the building for use in any medical emergency.
• Ensure that an Individual Health Care Plan (IHCP) and/or Allergy Action Plan (AAP) is created for each child with a life-threatening allergy.

• Develop a mechanism whereby substitute teachers are notified about student with life-threatening allergies.
• Adopt and maintain a no-sharing/no trading food policy including eating utensils.
• Eliminate the use of food for rewards.
• Encourage the use of non-food items to recognize special events.
• Teach students and staff proper hand washing techniques.
• Establish a cleaning protocol for classrooms, cafeteria and other areas of the building.
• Notify parents in advance of any school activities that require the use of food.
• Ensure that all bus drivers have functioning emergency communication devices.
• Reinforce no-eating practice on buses.

FOOD SERVICES DIRECTOR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide time for training to food service staff.
• Familiarize self with laws protecting students with food allergies as they relate to food services.
• Maintain food labels from each food served to a child with allergies for at least 24 hours following service.
• Provide food ingredient list for parents, when requested.
• Post the student’s Allergy Action Plan (AAP) in prominent area, when indicated.
• Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings.
• Create specific areas in cafeteria that will be allergen safe.

SCHOOL NURSE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop an Individualized Health Care Plan (IHCP) and/or an Allergy Action Plan (AAP) with parents/guardians and multidisciplinary school team (when appropriate) prior to school entry or when a new life-threatening food allergy is diagnosed.
• Communicate the above plan(s) to school staff that have a “need to know” (e.g., principal, teachers, specialists, food service personnel, bus drivers, etc.).
• Communicate with classroom parents regarding ways to reduce the risk of a reaction while in school.
• Determine the need for an allergen-free classroom.
• At the beginning of each school year, provide education and training of school staff to review the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis and epi-pen administration.
• Conduct in-service and education for appropriate staff for individual students that have life-threatening allergies as described in the IHCP and/or AAP.
• Post a list of students who require epi-pens for allergic reactions in the health office.  IHCPs and/or AAPs will be available in their health record.

The North Attleborough Public Schools cannot guarantee that a student will never experience an allergy related event while at school.  The above guidelines, as well as the protocol developed for students with food allergies, were created to minimize the risk of life-threatening reactions of allergic students while in school.

PROTOCOL FOR STUDENTS WITH FOOD, INSECT, LATEX ALLERGIES

1. A documented doctor’s order, either on an official order from or on a report from the allergist, will identify the allergy, the potential reaction and treatment to be provided.
2. A conference is held with parents, nurse, teacher, principal, etc., to discuss the student’s individual situation and to set up a plan of action (emergency health plan) to meet his needs in the school setting.  Each year the plan will be updated and adjusted as needed.  The care plan may require modifications of these protocols with parental permission and in accordance with the district’s guidelines.
3. A copy of the child’s emergency plan will be identified in the classroom – in the substitute folder, and elsewhere as noted in the plan.  An epi-pen, if required to be kept in the classroom, will be kept in an easily accessible, yet secure location.  Parents will supply an extra epi-pen so that one can be kept in the classroom as well as in the nurse’s office.
4. The school staff is given a list of the children with medical problems including those with peanut allergies on a “need to know” basis.
5. The staff in each affected classroom is offered training to use the epi-pen (including paraprofessionals).  Part of the training includes instructions on the signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction according to state regulations.
6. Extra pictures of the child are provided for cafeteria staff, which identifies the child and his/her allergies.
7. Parents are instructed to provide child’s entire snack (beverage if applicable), and to provide a snack for special occasions for their child – or they may leave a supply for their child in the classroom.
8. The school nurse will determine if there is a need to establish a peanut free classroom and/or table in the cafeteria.
1. The nurse will send a letter to all parents in the class, explaining the life threatening facts, according to the care plan.  This letter will advise that no foods containing the food (that the child is allergic to) can be sent in.
9. If a peanut free table is required, the school nurse will work with the food services staff and the custodial staff to ensure proper cleaning, identification.  A plan will be developed to ensure that the table is used appropriately.
1. The allergen free table will be identified as such with a laminated sign.  Only students whose food does not contain the allergen may sit at this table.
2. The table will be cleaned with a separate cleaning cloth to avoid cross contamination from other tables.
3. Students who sit at this table will have their meals checked and will be asked to move if needed.
4. Food service workers may be asked to assist the student should he/she request an allergen free meal (i.e., pizza) by providing the meal to the table to prevent student’s exposure to allergen in the line.
5. Staff who regularly monitor the lunchroom will be offered epi-pen training.

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No kickball, soccer or football games are allowed on the blacktop area, only on the field when it is dry.  There can be no tackle football.  Basketball may be played on the blacktop.  There should be no dodge ball type games, and no hard baseballs or other such equipment.

Recess Reminders:

·         Follow directions first time given;

·         Keep hands, feet, objects, unkind words and gestures to yourself;

·         No return to school for forgotten items;

·         Throw all trash in containers, NO LITTERING;

·         Line up quietly at end of recess and enter school quietly in class lines.